Review: The Wombats – A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation

Everything about this record is surrounded by this pretentious indie scene grimmace. That is to say, their fence straddling between indie and… well, pop makes them completely abhorrent to the former – and as such, are reviewed accordingly by dictatorial indie stalwarts for being complete sellouts or just completely lame with no real ability to continue post-debut album.

As such, I feel as though a review would be entirely about defending what they are, and what this album is against ridiculous opinions that, let’s face it, are completely boring and derivative. It takes more skill and more of a person to actually listen to something and be able to not spew forth vitriolic, unimaginative bullshit that simple affirms one thing – that you are the tosser and that you are the one that deserves 3/10.

Now that that is out of the way, let’s talk about this great record.

The Wombats are three guys from Liverpool who met at a music school and it shows. They can play their instruments, they can all sing flawless harmonies, and are fairly agile with their music – that is to say, their sound is of a maturity that far surpasses (I would think) much more “credible” indie bands such as The Futureheads, Art Brut, Arctic Monkeys et al.

The album isn’t supposed to be monumental or ground breaking. What they have excelled with in this album is taking a sound, introducing some genre-subversive and witty lyrics, then adding some fantastic vocals and licks. They even, in my opinion are taking the piss out of a few different bands. The album opens with, and you know how I love this, a manifesto song that sets the agenda (yeah that’s what a manifesto does boys and girls) for the rest of the songs. These are simply tales of boys and girls and well… marsupials. This song show cases their amazing gift of harmony and their tightness is set to a very high standard, and they do not fall below it, ever. Fans of that weird English working class town inflection, whatever it is, will delight, as it seeps through their singing, as good as it is. But it does not detract, it adds to their charm, in a way I think that Arctic Monkeys and Art Brut made it cringe worthy.

Kill the Director, the second track, and really, their opener, is a massive song and as such, takes the piss. East Enders, Soap TV, Romantic Comedy, Bridget Jones and Children’s rhymesall achieve a mention. It’s infectious upbeat tone along with up’ed in volume lyrics make it a real get up and dance and sing number and I challange you to hold back the desire to do so if it is up loud.

Lost In the Post, School Uniforms, (obviously) Let’s Dance to Joy Division, Patricia the Stripper and My First Wedding.

Their digs at the scene is quite a good little treat for those crossing over from the indie scene – making listeners think twice about the ridiculousness of their acquired tastes. School Uniforms in particular I would say is taking the piss out of Emily Kane by Art Brut. Have a listen and see if you can hear it. Let’s Dance to Joy Division isn’t taking the piss so much as making a statement through tone about how completely depressing said band is. Here Comes the Anxiety is, I feel, completely taking the absolute mickey out of Razorlight. If you are familiar with Razorlight, and their insidious sound this should be fairly obvious. But they take this sound, and snap it in half mid-song and break into a quicker, more kick arse song.

Ok, so there isn’t much to say about the songs besides this – they are incredibly well done for what they are. And people shouldn’t take this so seriously, but at least appreciate the fun they have approached an industry that is so far up its own arse it doesn’t know what shit taste like anymore.

An added extra with this band is their happy go-lucky attitude. They aren’t afraid of making themselves available to their fans and to the wider public in general. Youtube is smattered with tons of laid back little skits, acoustic sessions and quirky little projects of theirs. A favourite of mine is their Christmas message and one where they ride a lift playing their various songs. Check them out!

5/5